In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia interviews Chad Bruce, President of GluDown, Inc., a family business founded in Dallas in 1981.

Chad shares how he unexpectedly joined the company after his mother's illness and navigated a challenging leadership transition with his father, who resisted his push toward construction markets. Chad eventually bought his father out, sold most of the original business, and rebuilt GluDown from the ground up. He reflects on lessons learned around succession, family dynamics, innovation, and culture, and how separating business from personal relationships ultimately strengthened both the company and his bond with his father.

Check out Chad's work HERE.

Connect with Chad on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Del Ornelas III, owner of I Am Trucking, an oilfield logistics company.

Del shares his entrepreneurial journey, shaped by contrasting family influences between risk aversion and bold entrepreneurship. He discusses leaving a secure corporate career at H-E-B to join his family's business, only to face painful partnership disputes and financial losses—twice. Through resilience, Del rebuilt as sole owner, now focusing on professionalizing operations, embracing AI-driven technology, developing future leaders, and mentoring his daughter as a potential successor, while redefining success to balance business sustainability with family presence.

Check out Del's work HERE.

Connect with Del on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, host Ed Delia speaks with Pedro and Jesse Quiroga of EAFab Corporation, a family-owned engineering and fabrication company serving the global steel industry.

Pedro and his wife Claudia founded EAFab in 2006, designing equipment for electric arc furnace steel production. Jesse, their daughter, took a non-linear path, studying psychology and exploring various career, before joining as marketing and HR manager. Together, they discuss generational dynamics, company values, talent development, and dispelling misconceptions about the steel industry being outdated, emphasizing innovation, diversity, and a culture built on honesty and integrity.

Check out Pedro and Jesse's work HERE.

Connect with Pedro on LinkedIn HERE.

Connect with Jesse on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, host Ed Delia speaks with Caryn Kopp, founder of Kopp Consulting and self-described "Chief Door Opener."

Caryn shares her expertise in helping companies secure meetings with top executives at major corporations. The conversation covers why getting in the door is the hardest part of sales, the importance of having the right sales DNA, precise targeting, and quality leads. They also explore the critical role of tailored sales messaging, handling objections, and responsible AI use in prospecting. Caryn emphasizes that human outreach, preparation, and leadership discipline are essential to building a predictable, high-quality sales pipeline.

Check out Caryn's work HERE.

Connect with Caryn on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Dr. Lauri Union about family entrepreneurship, leadership succession, and organizational transformation.

Dr. Lauri shares her remarkable journey of becoming CEO of her family's struggling corrugated steel business at 27, growing it twelvefold over 14 years. She distinguishes family entrepreneurship from traditional family business, emphasizing leveraging broader family assets across generations. Dr. Lauri also introduces her Healthy Family Healthy Business Method, rooted in neuroscience, designed to help families thrive both relationally and professionally. Key themes include open curiosity, empowering others, and balancing tradition with innovation.

Check out Dr. Lauri Union's work HERE.

Connect with Dr. Lauri Union on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Harry Dale, Co-Founder of Cover & Supply Co.

Harry and his brother Nick, raised in an entrepreneurial family, identified a gap in the spa cover market after a local manufacturer closed, causing price spikes. They left their corporate jobs to build a Northeast-based manufacturing business specializing in custom spa covers. Harry shares lessons on customer relations, domestic sourcing, leveraging AI, and navigating a family business partnership. He emphasizes resilience, confidence, and the value of growing up around entrepreneurship as key drivers of their early success.

Check out Harry's work HERE.

Connect with Harry on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Degelis Tufts Pilla and Greg Pilla, co-founders of TribeTokes Inc., a wellness brand specializing in cannabis and plant-based products.

The couple shares their entrepreneurial journey since 2017, discussing how they built the company without outside investment, navigated strict industry regulations, and maintained product quality through transparency. They also explore the dynamics of working together as a married couple, their strategic shift toward scaling operations, and how they are leveraging AI to drive growth while staying true to their core values.

Check out Degelis and Greg's work HERE.

Connect with Degelis on LinkedIn HERE.

Connect with Greg on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, host Ed Delia speaks with Stephen and Randi Goldberg of Sun Business Valuations about the critical role business valuation plays for family-owned B2B companies.

Stephen, with 30+ years of experience valuing over 4,000 companies, and Randi, a former Goldman Sachs executive, share insights on common valuation misconceptions, key value drivers, and value killers like client concentration and owner dependency. They also discuss the dynamics of working as a married couple, the importance of early valuation planning, and how emotional and financial complexities intersect during major business transitions.

Check out Stephen and Randi's work HERE.

Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn HERE.

Connect with Randi on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with executive coach and author Michèle Hecken about the challenges leaders face when stepping back from their businesses.

Drawing from her own entrepreneurial journey, Michèle discusses her book The Art of Offboarding, exploring how founders can transition out of day-to-day roles through delegation, clear role definition, and overcoming ego and fear. The conversation also touches on succession planning in family businesses, generational shifts in leadership values, and the importance of building a fulfilling life outside of work.

Check out Michèle's work HERE.

Check out Michèle's book, The Art of Offboarding, HERE.

Connect with Michèle on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Sarah Switlik, fourth-generational President of Switlik Survival Products, a century-old manufacturer of life-saving equipment including aviation life vests, life rafts, and military gear.

Sarah shares her journey from Babson College graduate to company president, discussing the intentional, multi-year leadership transition with her father, the importance of open communication in family business succession, and key operational milestones like ERP implementation. She also addresses workforce development challenges, manufacturing's evolving perception, innovation strategy, and building a values-driven culture that supports a diverse, multigenerational workforce.

Check out Sarah's work HERE.

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.